Commissioned an ensign in the Naval Reserve in 1941, Commander James served as Officer-in- Charge, U.S.S. Courier (Amc-72); Commanding Officer, U.S.S. SC-1002; Executive Officer and later Commanding Officer, U.S.S. Bray (APD- 139); and Commanding Officer, U.S.S. Pillsbury (DE-133). He was selected for transfer to the regular Navy in 1946.
He served as Communications Officer in the U.S.S. Coral Sea (CVA-43) in 1949-50 and on the staff of Commander, Carrier Division Two in 1950-51. At present he is in charge of the Operations and Training Section, Special Weapons Unit Training Group, Sandia Base, Albuquerque, New Mexico.